Psychology 304: Brain and Behaviour Lecture 20

1. Psychology 304: Brain and BehaviourLecture 20

2. Neurodevelopmental Disorders 1. What neurodevelopmental disorders have been identified? (continued)

3. What neurodevelopmental disorders have been identified? (continued) 4. Fetal alcohol syndrome • Occurs when the fetus is exposed to alcohol, resulting in nervous system damage. Caused by exposure to neurotoxins and, in many cases, nutrient deficiencies.

4. Associated with abnormal brain development: smaller frontal lobes, poor production of cell- adhesion molecules, reduced gray matter and neural plasticity, absence of corpus callosum. • Accompanied by mental retardation, altered facial features, stunted growth, and cognitive/behavioural deficits.

5. Fetal Alcohol Syndrome: Brain Damage

6. Fetal Alcohol Syndrome: Physical Characteristics

7. Fetal Alcohol Syndrome: Physical Characteristics

8. 5. Autism • Considered by many to be the most common neurodevelopmental disorder. • Occurs as a result of a neurodevelopmental error between 20 and 24 days after conception. Precise error is unknown. Caused by abnormalities in the gene Hoxa 1 in some, but not all, cases and/or exposure to neurotoxins.

9. Associated with abnormal brain development: shortened brain stem, underdeveloped and missing nuclei within the brain stem, abnormal frontal lobes, reduced mirror neuron activity, smaller corpus callosum and amygdala. • Accompanied by three core symptoms: 1. reduced capacity for social interaction, 2. reduced capacity for communication, 3. preoccupation with a single subject or activity.Typically, perseveration is observed. In some cases, mental retardation and/or savant abilities are observed.

10. Autism: Mirror Neuron Activity

11. Neurodevelopmental Disorders 1. What neurodevelopmental disorders have been identified? (continued)